55. Can’t Escape
After running for God knew how long, Heidi’s energy was running out and exhaustion weighed down on her. Panting heavily, she didn’t stop running, her eyes darting back now and then to see if the guy was still after her.
Strangely, when she glanced back this time, his figure had disappeared and an empty wilderness spread behind her.
Heidi stopped to catch her breath, holding her knees with both hands. Her heart pounded non-stop and sweat poured down her face.
How was she going to get out of this place?
Where was the way back to the city?
Those same questions haunted her as her eyes roamed over the vast area.
Well, it was already good that she wasn’t anywhere near that Villa now.
“Gotcha!”
“Ah!”
Someone jumped in front of her, causing Heidi to yelp.
Seeing that it was the same guy from before, Heidi took several steps back.
The back of her leg hit a tree branch,
and she staggered and fell.
The guy used that opportunity to pin her down instantly. He brought out a sharp knife and leveled it to her neck, giving her no room to struggle.
“I’ve seen how fast you ran that night, and how skillfully you escaped. Do you think you can fool me easily the way you did to them?”
“Y-You.” Heidi stammered, her eyes wide with fear at the sight of the knife. “Didn’t you eat the pastries?”
Knowing that she’d put a large amount of walnuts and tomatoes inside the pastries, he should also be asleep like the others.
The guy laughed like a maniac. “Why would I miss those delicious pastries? I just didn’t drink the wine.”
“Huh?” Heidi’s heart raced harder.
Definitely, the sedative effect of the walnuts and tomatoes would only work faster with a combination of the wine due to their high melatonin content.
‘Damnit!’ Heidi shut her eyes and cursed inside her mind. “So you know about that combination?” She asked.
The guy shook his head. “I don’t know what combination you’re talking about. I just couldn’t trust you, especially with the wine.”
“Who are you? Who sent you?” Heidi didn’t really need those answers.
“Why should I answer your questions? You think you’re smart-”
Before he finished speaking, Heidi grabbed a broken tree branch and hit his head. She pushed him away and scrambled up, running off.
The guy touched his aching forehead and let out a loud curse, seeing that he’d been fooled again.
So she was only stalling time.
“You can’t hide, Heidi. I’m on a special mission, and I came prepared.”
He stood up and ran after her, quickly catching up with her.
He grabbed her arm and turned her around, spitting out the words, “It is much better that those dumbasses are asleep. Then no one can interrupt my mission.”
“Ah- let me go!” Heidi wriggled her hand free.
She lost her footing again, and the guy tousled on the ground with her, trying to grab her.
They rolled down a small sandy hill, and dust scattered all over the place.
They came to a halt with the guy towering over her. Pinning her down, he grabbed his knife and raised it up.
“No!” Heidi screamed. She caught a handful of sand and tossed it into his eyes.
“Ahhhh, crazy lady!” The guy yelled and grabbed her hair, exerting force.
Heidi’s eyes reddened from the pain. She bit his hand hard, making him let go of her.
The guy cursed in several languages. He pulled her back by her hair, raising the knife again. “Damnit! Heidi, you will die today.”
The sharp edge glinted.
As the knife descended at lightning speed, aiming for her chest, Heidi quickly rolled sideways and the knife ended up grazing her arm.
Already, she’d scooped some sand into her hands and she threw it into his eyes.
As the guy yelled, trying to recover his vision, Heidi scrambled up and limped away, holding her bleeding arm.
After cleaning his eyes, the guy’s eyes darted over the empty place.
His eyes turned crimson with rage and he hit the ground with his fist. At that moment, he saw traces of blood on the sand.
“Hahaha! You can’t run that far.” He grabbed the knife and followed the direction of the blood, his sinister voice echoing.
Heidi hid behind a tree, her mind racing, and the pain in her arm increasing.
She pressed the wound tight to stop the blood from flowing, shutting her eyes to deal with the pain. As she took in long drags of the air, something suddenly gripped her neck.
“I told you, you can’t escape.” The guy strangled her from behind.
Heidi screamed with all her might, gasping for air. She struggled and thrashed, while his grip on her neck tightened. Then he brought out the knife.
